In Senate race, early debates shouldn’t preclude fall faceoffs

In politics, there are tricks aplenty that candidates use to avoid high-profile debates. One can do as wily veteran Ted Kennedy did in 2006 and accept a single debate on a well-regarded but relatively low-profile media outlet like New England Cable News. He or she can agree to debate only on a night when viewers are sure to be watching more enticing events, or can insist on debates that occur before voters are fully focused on the race. And let’s not forget Tom Menino’s 2005 trick of doing a radio debate as one of his few encounters with an attention-starved rival.

Over the years, Massachusetts voters have seen all those stratagems and more. They shouldn’t let either of the candidates in the US Senate race get away with any of them.